House E&C Subcommittee on Health Holds Another Hearing on Health Care Affordability

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held another hearing on June 10 in its affordability series to explore more legislative proposals for health care affordability and transparency.

“Codification is so important, as it aims to allow for a more standardized format in implementation of rules for hospitals and insurers to follow,” Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), the subcommittee chairman, said in his opening statement.

The hearing, entitled “Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency,” discussed several bills, including:

• Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026
• To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to require the displaying of claim denial rates
• To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the inclusion of certain information in Medicare Advantage encounter data
• To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure health insurer accountability through publishing of overhead costs and claim payments

The discussion featured concerns from witnesses and subcommittee members alike about growing health care consolidation and vertical integration, with many arguing in favor of the proposed transparency proposals. Republicans were largely in favor of price transparency as a key solution to lower health care costs, while Democrats argued it must be paired with more direct measures to both target market consolidation and reverse Medicaid cuts.

Sources:

https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/06_10_2026_HE_Hearing_Memorandum_bd4b947e59.pdf

https://www.congress.gov/index.php/event/119th-congress/house-event/119378

https://www.aamc.org/advocacy-policy/washington-highlights/house-health-subcommittee-holds-hearing-health-care-price-transparency